Extracorporeal blood treatment flow rate adjustment

ABSTRACT

Extracorporeal blood treatment systems and methods to display graphical user interfaces displaying a plurality of fluids areas, each including a flow rate, and displaying adjustment notifications proximate one or more fluid areas. For example, when a user adjusts a flow rate to a limit, one or more notifications may be displayed proximate other flow rates that may be adjusted to modify the limit.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/972,713, filed 31 Mar. 2014, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure herein relates to extracorporeal blood treatment. Moreparticularly, the disclosure relates to graphical user interfacesdisplaying a plurality of fluid areas, each including an adjustable flowrate.

Extracorporeal blood treatment may refer to taking blood from a patient,treating the blood outside the patient, and returning the treated bloodto the patient. Extracorporeal blood treatment is typically used toextract undesirable matter or molecules from the patient's blood, and/orto add beneficial matter or molecules to the blood. Extracorporeal bloodtreatment may be used with patients incapable of effectively eliminatingmatter from their blood, for example, in the case of a patient who issuffering from temporary or permanent kidney failure. These and otherpatients may, for instance, undergo extracorporeal blood treatment toadd to or to eliminate matter from their blood, to maintain an acid-basebalance or to eliminate excess body fluids.

In a variety of extracorporeal blood treatments, one or more fluids, orliquids, may be supplied to the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatusfor use during the treatments and one or more fluids may be collected asa part of the treatments. Adjustment of flow rates may be used tocontrol the treatment process.

Due to the nature of extracorporeal blood treatments, adjusting a flowrate of one pump often has a direct effect on the flow rate of another.For example, either the other flow is directly adjusted or the limits towhich it may be changed to may be affected.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure describessystems and methods that provide adjustment notifications proximate oneor more fluid areas on a graphical user interface when one or more flowrates are modified or adjusted. For example, when a flow rate isadjusted to a limit, one or more adjustment notifications may bedisplayed proximate one or more other fluid areas to indicate that theflow rates of the one or more other fluid areas may need to be adjustedto allow adjustment of the limit of the flow rate being adjusted.

One exemplary extracorporeal blood treatment system may include adisplay apparatus and a computing apparatus. The display apparatus mayinclude a graphical user interface that is configured to depict a fluidsregion. The computing apparatus may be operatively coupled to thedisplay apparatus and configured to display on the graphical userinterface a fluids region including a plurality of fluid areas. Eachfluid area of the plurality of fluid areas may include a flow rate andat least one limit value (e.g., an upper limit and a lower limit),wherein the flow rate is depicted in the fluid area. The computingapparatus may be further configured to allow a user to adjust the flowrate of a selected fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas anddisplay, when the flow rate of the selected fluid area has been adjustedsuch that the at least one limit of the selected fluid area has beenreached, an adjustment notification proximate one or more other fluidareas of the plurality of fluid areas. Further, the one or more otherfluid areas may be adjustable to modify the at least one limit of theselected fluid area.

One exemplary method for an extracorporeal blood treatment system mayinclude providing a graphical user interface including a fluids region,and displaying on the graphical user interface a fluids region includinga plurality of fluid areas. Each fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas may include a flow rate and at least one limit value (e.g., anupper limit and a lower limit), wherein the flow rate is depicted in thefluid area. The exemplary method may further include allowing a user toadjust the flow rate of a selected fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas and displaying, when the flow rate of the selected fluid area hasbeen adjusted such that the at least one limit of the selected fluidarea has been reached, an adjustment notification proximate one or moreother fluid areas of the plurality of fluid areas. Further, the one ormore other fluid areas may be adjustable to modify the at least onelimit of the selected fluid area.

In one or more embodiments, an adjustment information area (e.g.,including at least one of a description of the at least one limit, adescription of the one or more other fluid areas, and a description ofan action required to be performed on the one or more other fluid areasto modify the at least one limit of the selected fluid area) may bedisplayed proximate the selected fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas including information relevant to the one or more other fluidareas of the plurality of fluid areas that are adjustable to modify theat least one limit of the selected fluid area when the flow rate of theselected fluid area has been adjusted such that the at least one limitof the selected fluid area has been reached.

In one or more embodiments, the adjustment notification may include anicon indicating an increase or decrease of the flow rate of the one ormore other fluid areas to modify the at least one limit of the selectedfluid area and/or an animation. In one or more embodiments, each fluidarea of the plurality of fluid areas may further include an iconrepresenting one of a pump and a syringe.

In one or more embodiments, the selected fluid area may further includea previous flow rate that is the flow rate prior to adjustment, and theprevious flow rate may be depicted in the selected fluid area when auser adjusts the flow rate of the selected fluid area. In one or moreembodiments, the selected fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas mayfurther include an adjustment area configured to allow a user to adjustthe flow rate of the selected fluid area and the adjustment area maydisplay the at least one limit and a graphical indication of flow rateof the selected fluid area with respect to the at least one limit.

In one or more embodiments, graphical representations of fluidconnections between one or more fluid areas of the plurality of fluidareas and a change region may be displayed prior to a user adjusting theflow rate of a fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas. When a userselects the change region to initiate an action associated with at leastone fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas, the graphicalrepresentations of fluid connections may be configured to vanish.

In one or more embodiments, the plurality of fluid areas correspond toone or more of pre blood pump, effluent, citrate, blood flow rate,patient fluid removal, dialysate, replacement fluid, anticoagulation,patient plasma loss, and calcium.

One extracorporeal blood treatment system may include display apparatusand computing apparatus operatively coupled to the display apparatus.The display apparatus may include a graphical user interface configuredto depict a fluids region. The computing apparatus may be configured todisplay on the graphical user interface a fluids region including aplurality of fluid areas. Each fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas may include a flow rate depicted in the fluid area. The computingapparatus may be further configured to display graphical representationsof fluid connections between one or more fluid areas of the plurality offluid areas prior to a user adjusting the flow rate of a fluid area ofthe plurality of fluid areas and remove the graphical representations offluid connections from the graphical user interface when a userinitiates an action associated with at least one fluid area of theplurality of fluid areas.

One exemplary method for an extracorporeal blood treatment system mayinclude providing a graphical user interface including a fluids region,and displaying on the graphical user interface a fluids region includinga plurality of fluid areas. Each fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas may include a flow rate depicted in the fluid area. The exemplarymethod may further include displaying graphical representations of fluidconnections between one or more fluid areas of the plurality of fluidareas prior to a user adjusting the flow rate of a fluid area of theplurality of fluid areas, displaying on the graphical user interface achange region, and removing the graphical representations of fluidconnections from the graphical user interface when a user initiates anaction associated with at least one fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas.

In one or more embodiments, the graphical user interface may furtherinclude a change region configured, upon selection by the user, to allowan action associated with at least one fluid area of the plurality offluid areas. In one or more embodiments, the action associated with atleast one fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas may include one ofa flow rate adjustment and a reservoir change.

One extracorporeal blood treatment system may include a displayapparatus and a computing apparatus operatively coupled to the displayapparatus. The display apparatus may include a graphical user interfaceconfigured to depict a fluids region. The computing apparatus may beconfigured to display on the graphical user interface a fluids regionincluding a plurality of fluid areas. Each fluid area of the pluralityof fluid areas may include a flow rate depicted in the fluid area. Thecomputing apparatus may be further configured to display graphicalrepresentations of fluid connections between one or more fluid areas ofthe plurality of fluid areas prior to a user adjusting the flow rate ofa fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas and graphically modify thegraphical representations of fluid connections when a user initiates anaction associated with at least one fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas.

One exemplary method for an extracorporeal blood treatment system mayinclude providing a graphical user interface including a fluids regionand displaying on the graphical user interface a fluids region includinga plurality of fluid areas. Each fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas may include a flow rate depicted in the fluid area. The exemplarymethod may further include displaying graphical representations of fluidconnections between one or more fluid areas of the plurality of fluidareas prior to a user adjusting the flow rate of a fluid area of theplurality of fluid areas and graphically modifying the graphicalrepresentations of fluid connections when a user initiates an actionassociated with at least one fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas.

In one or more embodiments, the graphical user interface may beconfigured to allow the user to select the fluids region to initiate anaction associated with at least one fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas. In one or more embodiments, the graphical user interface may beconfigured to allow the user to select a selected fluid area of theplurality of fluid areas to initiate an action associated with theselected fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas. In one or moreembodiments, the one or more fluid areas of the plurality of fluid areasother than the selected area may also be graphically modified andnon-functional when the user selects the selected fluid area of theplurality of fluid areas to initiate an action associated with theselected fluid area of the plurality of fluid areas.

In one or more embodiments, graphically modify the graphicalrepresentations of fluid connections may include darkening the graphicalrepresentations of fluid connections. In one or more embodiments, theaction associated with at least one fluid area of the plurality of fluidareas may include one of a flow rate adjustment and a reservoir change.

One or more exemplary embodiments may be described as graphic interfacesthat provide live feedback to an operator, or user, regarding adjustingflow rates and the relationship they have with each other. Flow ratesmay be adjusted before a treatment is started, during the course of atreatment, and as a way of creating a preset profile for use during afuture treatment. Flow rates may be adjusted and then accepted bypressing, or selecting, an “Accept” area proximate a lower left-handcorner of the graphic interface. Further, the flow rates may be adjustedby using a control on the interface and may be adjusted one at a time.As a flow rate is adjusted, it can change the rate of flow of anotherflow rate. Additionally, the limits of the flow rate may be affected bythe current settings of other flow rates. In one or more embodiments,the limits may be displayed on the graphic control region that theoperator is adjusting.

Reaching a limit of a flow rate can be caused by several factors. Forexample, in a three way flow rate example, a limit on the total flow maycause a limit of fluid that can pass through a portion of the settubing. As more than one solution is passing through that portion of theset the combination of more than one flow rate amounts to the totalflow. Hitting the limit of a flow rate can be caused by its combinationwith two other flow rates. Lowering one of the two other flows canincrease the limit on the flow being adjusted. When an operator, oruser, hits a limit, the graphic user interface (GUI) may react bydisplaying a dialog stating the reason the limit was reached. Further,an arrow pointing towards a line may be displayed in the flow ratebutton indicating the operator has reached a hard limit. Additionally,the other flow rates that are affecting the limit may be identified byflashing arrows indicating which direction they can be adjusted tofurther increase the range of the limit. If more information is neededregarding the limit, a down arrow on the dialog can be pressed todisplay additional text regarding the limit and actions an operator cantake. Adjusting any of the three flow rates affecting the limit willcause the dialog and arrows to disappear.

The exemplary systems and methods described herein may provide a safetynet and help operators remain inside a comfortable range when entering atreatment. Different types of constraints come into effect depending onthe flow rate being adjusted and a helpful indication may assist tonotify the operator what happened. Further, providing live feedback whena constraint is reached may allow an operator to better understand theflows they are adjusting, the connection between them, and how tofurther adjust accordingly.

The above summary of the present disclosure is not intended to describeeach embodiment or every implementation thereof. Advantages, togetherwith a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, willbecome apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detaileddescription and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary extracorporeal blood treatmentsystem including input apparatus, display apparatus, and treatmentapparatus that may utilize the graphical user interfaces and methodsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary extracorporeal blood treatmentsystem that may include graphical user interfaces as described herein.

FIGS. 3-15 are screenshots of exemplary graphical user interfacesrelated to one or more fluid areas for use in extracorporeal bloodtreatment systems, for example, such as shown generally in FIGS. 1-2 .

FIG. 16 depicts an animation of an exemplary pump icon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawing which forma part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specificembodiments which may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting from (e.g., still falling within) the scope of the disclosurepresented hereby.

Exemplary systems and methods providing graphical user interfaces foruse in extracorporeal blood treatments shall be described with referenceto FIGS. 1-16 . It will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatelements or processes from one embodiment may be used in combinationwith elements or processes of the other embodiments, and that thepossible embodiments of such systems and methods using combinations offeatures set forth herein is not limited to the specific embodimentsshown in the Figures and/or described herein. Further, it will berecognized that the embodiments described herein may include manyelements that are not necessarily shown to scale. Still further, it willbe recognized that timing of the processes and the size and shape ofvarious elements herein may be modified but still fall within the scopeof the present disclosure, although certain timings, one or more shapesand/or sizes, or types of elements, may be advantageous over others.

The exemplary systems and/or methods may include graphically displayinga fluids region depicting one or more fluid areas having pump elements,flow rate limits, flow rate buttons, reservoir elements, etc. The flowrate of a fluid represented by a fluid area may be adjusted by, e.g.,selecting a pump element. The flow rate of each fluid may be limited(e.g., upper and lower flow rate limits) based on multiple factorsincluding but not limited to the other flow rates of the extracorporealblood treatment system (e.g., shown by the other fluid areas). When aselected flow rate is adjusted to a limit, or the limit has beenreached, the exemplary systems and/or methods may display adjustmentnotifications proximate one or more fluid areas that are adjustable tomodify the limit of the selected flow rate.

The fluids region of the exemplary graphical user interfaces describedherein may directly mimic the actual connections on and/or in anextracorporeal blood treatment system, and the association between thefluid areas and the actual physical components may allow an operator, oruser, to more easily understand the pumps and reservoirs as well astheir relationship to the system overall. Further, by displayingreservoirs on the graphical user interface that drain and fill in asimilar way as the actual physical reservoirs, an operator may moreeasily accept feedback from the interface as being trustworthy. Forexample, the connection and association of the pump elements and thereservoir elements, as well as the notifications proximate thereto, andthe various reservoir and notification “states” may create a userexperience that more accurately reflects the system, may continuouslyinstruct the operator, and may provide a visual representation of theprescription being delivered to the patient.

An exemplary extracorporeal blood treatment system 10 depicted in FIG. 1may be used to execute, or perform, the exemplary methods and/orprocesses described herein. In at least one embodiment, the system 10may be a machine for the extracorporeal treatment of blood. The system10 could, for example, alternatively be a blood processing device or ablood component preparation device or other medical apparatus for fluiddelivery/collection.

As shown, the exemplary extracorporeal blood treatment system 10includes computing apparatus 12. The computing apparatus 12 may beconfigured to receive input from input apparatus 20 and transmit outputto display apparatus 22. Further, the computing apparatus 12 may includedata storage 14. Data storage 14 may allow for access to processingprograms or routines 16 and one or more other types of data 18 that maybe employed to carry out exemplary methods and/or processes (e.g.,adjusting treatments, adjusting flow rates, calculating flow rates,determining flow rates dependent on other flow rates, running atreatment, notifying operator, or users, of problems, displaying statusinformation, etc.) for use in performing extracorporeal bloodtreatments. For example, the computing apparatus 12 may be configured todisplay a fluids region on an exemplary graphical user interfacedisplayed by the display apparatus 22 including one or more fluid areas,each having a flow rate associated therewith (e.g., which will bedescribed further herein with respect to FIGS. 3-16 ).

The computing apparatus 12 may be operatively coupled to the inputapparatus 20 and the display apparatus 22 to, e.g., transmit data to andfrom each of the input apparatus 20 and the display apparatus 22. Forexample, the computing apparatus 12 may be electrically coupled to eachof the input apparatus 20 and the display apparatus 22 using, e.g.,analog electrical connections, digital electrical connections, wirelessconnections, bus-based connections, etc. As described further herein, anoperator may provide input to the input apparatus 20 to manipulate, ormodify, one or more graphical depictions displayed on the displayapparatus 22 to select and adjust one or more flow rates, etc. during,before, or after any extracorporeal blood treatments.

Further, various devices and apparatus may be operatively coupled to thecomputing apparatus 12 to be used with the computing apparatus 12 toperform one or more extracorporeal procedures/treatments as well as thefunctionality, methods, and/or logic described herein. As shown, thesystem 10 may include input apparatus 20, display apparatus 22, andtreatment apparatus 24 operatively coupled to the computing apparatus 12(e.g., such that the computing apparatus 12 may be configured to useinformation, or data, from the apparatus 20, 22, 24 and provideinformation, or data, to the apparatus 20, 22, 24). The input apparatus20 may include any apparatus capable of providing input to the computingapparatus 12 to perform the functionality, methods, and/or logicdescribed herein.

For example, the input apparatus 20 may include a touchscreen (e.g.,capacitive touchscreen, a resistive touchscreen, a multi-touchtouchscreen, etc.), a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, etc. A touchscreenmay overlay the display apparatus 22 such that, e.g., an operator mayuse the touchscreen to interact (e.g., by touch) with a graphical userinterface displayed on the display apparatus. The input apparatus 20 mayallow an operator to interact with a graphical user interface includinga fluids region containing, or depicting, one or more fluid areas, eachincluding information related to a different fluid to, e.g., adjust aflow rate of each fluid, etc. when used in conjunction with the displayapparatus 22 (e.g., displaying the graphical user interface).

The display apparatus 22 may include any apparatus capable of displayinginformation to an operator, such as a graphical user interface, etc., toperform the functionality, methods, and/or logic described herein. Forexample, the display apparatus 22 may include a liquid crystal display,an organic light-emitting diode screen, a touchscreen, a cathode raytube display, etc. As described further herein, the graphical userinterface displayed by the display apparatus 22 may include multipleitems related to the extracorporeal blood treatment such as, e.g., oneor more fluid areas, each fluid area corresponding to a different fluidused in an extracorporeal blood treatment. Each of these fluid areas maybe used by an operator to view status information corresponding to afluid such as flow rate, an amount of fluid within a reservoir, anamount of time left before a reservoir change, etc. Further, each ofthese fluid areas may be used, or interacted with, by a user to change,or modify, one or more parameters associated with the fluid such as flowrate, concentration, etc.

As used herein, a “region” of a graphical user interface may be definedas a portion of the graphical user interface within which informationmay be displayed or functionality may be performed. Regions may existwithin other regions, which may be displayed separately orsimultaneously. For example, smaller regions may be located withinlarger regions, regions may be located side-by-side, etc. Additionally,as used herein, an “area” of a graphical user interface may be definedas a portion of the graphical user interface located with a region thatis smaller than the region the area is located within.

The processing programs or routines 16 may include programs or routinesfor performing computational mathematics, matrix mathematics,standardization algorithms, comparison algorithms, or any otherprocessing required to implement one or more exemplary methods and/orprocesses described herein. Data 18 may include, for example, fluiddata, flow rates, fluid volumes, notifications, pressures, blood flow,fluid removal rates, target blood temperatures, graphics (e.g.,graphical elements, icons, buttons, windows, dialogs, pull-down menus,graphic areas, graphic regions, 3D graphics, etc.), graphical userinterfaces, results from one or more processing programs or routinesemployed according to the disclosure herein, or any other data that maybe necessary for carrying out the one and/or more processes or methodsdescribed herein.

In one or more embodiments, the system 10 may be implemented using oneor more computer programs executed on programmable computers, such ascomputers that include, for example, processing capabilities, datastorage (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory and/or storage elements),input devices, and output devices. Program code and/or logic describedherein may be applied to input data to perform functionality describedherein and generate desired output information. The output informationmay be applied as input to one or more other devices and/or methods asdescribed herein or as would be applied in a known fashion.

The program used to implement the methods and/or processes describedherein may be provided using any programmable language, e.g., a highlevel procedural and/or object orientated programming language that issuitable for communicating with a computer system. Any such programsmay, for example, be stored on any suitable device, e.g., a storagemedia, that is readable by a general or special purpose program runningon a computer system (e.g., including processing apparatus) forconfiguring and operating the computer system when the suitable deviceis read for performing the procedures described herein. In other words,at least in one embodiment, the system 10 may be implemented using acomputer readable storage medium, configured with a computer program,where the storage medium so configured causes the computer to operate ina specific and predefined manner to perform functions described herein.Further, in at least one embodiment, the system 10 may be described asbeing implemented by logic (e.g., object code) encoded in one or morenon-transitory media that includes code for execution and, when executedby a processor, is operable to perform operations such as the methods,processes, and/or functionality described herein.

Likewise, the system 10 may be configured at a remote site (e.g., anapplication server) that allows access by one or more operator, orusers, via a remote computer apparatus (e.g., via a web browser), andallows an operator to employ the functionality according to the presentdisclosure (e.g., an operator accesses a graphical user interfaceassociated with one or more programs to process data).

The computing apparatus 12 may be, for example, any fixed or mobilecomputer system (e.g., a controller, a microcontroller, a personalcomputer, mini computer, etc.). The exact configuration of the computingapparatus 12 is not limiting, and essentially any device capable ofproviding suitable computing capabilities and control capabilities(e.g., graphics processing, control of extracorporeal blood treatmentapparatus, etc.) may be used.

As described herein, a digital file may be any medium (e.g., volatile ornon-volatile memory, a CD-ROM, a punch card, magnetic recordable tape,etc.) containing digital bits (e.g., encoded in binary, trinary, etc.)that may be readable and/or writeable by computing apparatus 12described herein. Also, as described herein, a file in user-readableformat may be any representation of data (e.g., ASCII text, binarynumbers, hexadecimal numbers, decimal numbers, graphically, etc.)presentable on any medium (e.g., paper, a display, etc.) readable and/orunderstandable by a user.

In view of the above, it will be readily apparent that the functionalityas described in one or more embodiments according to the presentdisclosure may be implemented in any manner as would be known to oneskilled in the art. As such, the computer language, the computer system,or any other software/hardware which is to be used to implement theprocesses described herein shall not be limiting on the scope of thesystems, processes or programs (e.g., the functionality provided by suchsystems, processes or programs) described herein.

The methods and/or logic described in this disclosure, including thoseattributed to the systems, or various constituent components, may beimplemented, at least in part, in hardware, software, firmware, or anycombination thereof. For example, various aspects of the techniques maybe implemented within one or more processors, including one or moremicroprocessors, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, or any other equivalent integratedor discrete logic circuitry, as well as any combinations of suchcomponents, or other devices. The term “processor” or “processingcircuitry” may generally refer to any of the foregoing logic circuitry,alone or in combination with other logic circuitry, or any otherequivalent circuitry.

Such hardware, software, and/or firmware may be implemented within thesame device or within separate devices to support the various operationsand functions described in this disclosure. In addition, any of thedescribed components may be implemented together or separately asdiscrete but interoperable logic devices. Depiction of differentfeatures, e.g., using block diagrams, etc., is intended to highlightdifferent functional aspects and does not necessarily imply that suchfeatures must be realized by separate hardware or software components.Rather, functionality may be performed by separate hardware or softwarecomponents, or integrated within common or separate hardware or softwarecomponents.

When implemented in software, the functionality ascribed to the systems,devices and methods described in this disclosure may be embodied asinstructions and/or logic on a computer-readable medium such as RAM,ROM, NVRAM, EEPROM, FLASH memory, magnetic data storage media, opticaldata storage media, or the like. The instructions and/or logic may beexecuted by one or more processors to support one or more aspects of thefunctionality described in this disclosure.

The treatment apparatus 24 may include any apparatus used by anexemplary extracorporeal blood treatment system capable of performingextracorporeal blood treatments, such as, e.g., pumps, reservoirs,scales, treatment sets, filters, pressure sensors, etc. For example, thetreatment apparatus 24 may include one or more elements, or components,of the extracorporeal blood treatment system 100 described herein withreference to FIG. 2 .

The exemplary systems, and exemplary methods performed, or used, by suchexemplary systems, described herein may be generally referred to asdialysis systems. The general term “dialysis” as used herein includeshemodialysis, hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, hemoperfusion, liverdialysis, and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), among other similartreatment procedures. In dialysis generally, blood is taken out of thebody and exposed to a treatment device to separate substances therefromand/or to add substances thereto, and is then returned to the body.Although extracorporeal blood treatment systems capable of performinggeneral dialysis (as defined above, including TPE) shall be describedherein with reference to the exemplary extracorporeal blood treatmentsystem of FIG. 2 , other systems such as those for infusion of drugs,performance of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT),extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), hemoperfusion, liverdialysis, apheresis, TPE, etc. may benefit from the systems, methods,and apparatus described herein and the present disclosure is not limitedto any particular fluid processing system.

Referring to FIG. 2 , one illustrative embodiment of an extracorporealblood treatment system, or apparatus, 100 is depicted. The system 100includes a housing 110 having a front face 112. The system furtherincludes one or more pumps 120 used to move liquids through theapparatus as part of a treatment process. Although the pumps 120 aredepicted in the form of peristaltic pumps, the pumps used in theextracorporeal blood treatment system described herein may be providedin a variety of alternative forms, e.g., piston pumps, pumps for usewith syringes, diaphragm pumps, etc.

The extracorporeal blood treatment system 100 also includes, in one ormore embodiments, a display 160 used to convey information to anoperator. The display 160 may also serve as an input device if, e.g.,the display 160 is in the form of a touchscreen. Also, although thedisplay 160 is depicted as being located in the housing 110, in one ormore alternate embodiments, the display 160 may be separate from thehousing 110 of the extracorporeal blood treatment system 100. Forexample, the display 160 may be movably (e.g., swivel, tilt, etc.)attached, or coupled, to a top end of the housing 110.

The extracorporeal blood treatment system 100 also includes reservoirscales 130, each of which is configured to hold and weigh a reservoir132. The reservoir scales 130 are positioned below a bottom end 114 ofthe housing 110, at least in part because the reservoirs 132 aretypically attached to and hang from the reservoir scales 130. Althoughthe depicted embodiment of extracorporeal blood treatment system 100includes four reservoir scales 130 and associated reservoirs 132,alternative embodiments of an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatusas described herein may include one or more reservoir scales 130 andassociated reservoirs 132 such as, e.g., as few as two reservoirs scales130 and associated reservoirs 132, four or more reservoirs scales 130and associated reservoirs 132, etc.

In the embodiment shown, the reservoirs 132 may be in the form of, e.g.,flexible polymeric bags configured to hold liquids. Reservoirs 132,however, used in connection with the exemplary extracorporeal bloodtreatment systems described herein may take any suitable form in whichliquids can be stored and weighed by any scale or weighing apparatus(e.g., such as reservoir scales 130), e.g., bottles, tanks, cartons,syringes, jugs, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1 and as related to FIG. 2 , the treatment apparatus 24may be operatively coupled, or connected, to the computing apparatus 12.Among the treatment apparatus 24 operably coupled to the computingapparatus 12 are the pumps 120 and reservoir scales 130 as shown in FIG.2 . Each of the pumps 120 and reservoirs 132 may have a flow rateassociated therewith.

The computing apparatus 12 may, in one or more embodiments, beconfigured to receive a weight signal from each reservoir scale 130,with the weight signal from each reservoir scale 130 being indicative ofthe weight of a reservoir 132 attached to the reservoir scale 130. Thecomputing apparatus 12 may further be configured to make a determinationthat the reservoir 132 attached to the reservoir scale 130 from whichthe weight signal has been received has passed a selected weight limitat least partially based on the weight signal received from thereservoir scale 130.

Screenshots depicting exemplary graphical user interfaces for use inmodifying one or more flow rates for various fluids related toextracorporeal blood treatments are depicted in FIGS. 3-15 . Suchexemplary graphical user interfaces may be depicted by the displayapparatus 22 of the system 10 described herein with reference to FIG. 1and/or the display 160 of the system 100 of FIG. 2 . Additionally, thegraphical user interfaces described herein may be depicted on atouchscreen, and in such configuration, the input apparatus would alsobe the touchscreen.

An exemplary graphical user interface 200 is depicted in FIG. 3 that maybe generally used during and/or for the execution of an extracorporealblood treatment. The graphical user interface 200 may include, amongother regions, a fluids region 210. As shown, the fluids region 210 isdepicted below a toolbar region 211 and extending from a left side to aright side of the graphical user interface 200. The fluids region 210may include, or graphically depict, a plurality of fluid areas 220. Eachof the fluid areas 220 may correspond to, or represent, a fluid, flow orpump rate, and/or concentration of a fluid in a physical fluid circuitused in an exemplary extracorporeal blood treatment.

Additionally, the fluids region 210 may include a fluid circuit 212configured to diagrammatically represent the physical extracorporealfluid circuit for an ongoing, or present extracorporeal blood treatmentperformed by the exemplary extracorporeal blood treatment system. Thefluid circuit 212 may include one or more fluid connections 214extending between and connecting various fluid areas 220 as well asadditional items or components of the exemplary physical extracorporealfluid circuit such as a filter set 216, blood warmer 217, and deaerationapparatus 218. Further, the fluid connections may accurately depict thephysical fluid connection between the reservoirs and pumps of theextracorporeal blood treatment system. For example, the reservoir may beused to collect fluid from the patient and/or supply fluid to be used inthe blood treatment process (e.g., delivered to the patient), anddepending on the functionality of the reservoir, the fluid connectiondepicted may be different. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , the fluidconnection for the PFR fluid area 221 is shown extending from the top ofthe reservoir element (e.g., a bag reservoir) to the pump element, whichmay indicate that the PFR reservoir stores and collects fluid (e.g.,fluid from the patient, etc.). Further, in other fluid areas, the fluidconnection may be shown extending from the bottom of the reservoirelement (e.g., a bag reservoir) to the pump element, which may indicatethat the reservoir stores and supplies fluid to be used in the bloodtreatment process.

As shown in the exemplary figures, a Continuous VenovenousHemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) blood treatment is being presently performedor executed by the exemplary extracorporeal blood treatment system, andthus, the plurality of fluid areas 220 and the fluid circuit 212 (e.g.,including filter set 216, blood warmer 217, and deaeration apparatus218) are configured to diagrammatically represent the exemplary physicalextracorporeal fluid circuit for a CVVHDF blood treatment. The fluidareas 220 corresponding to the exemplary CVVHDF treatment depicted inthe fluids region 210 are pre-blood pump citrate (PBPcit), blood flowrate (BFR), patient fluid removal (PFR), dialysate (Dia), replacementfluid (REP), and calcium fluid (CaSYR). Exemplary fluid areas may bedescribed in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2014/026215 filed on Mar.14, 2014 and entitled “Extracorporeal Blood Treatment Fluids Interface,”which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Although an exemplary CVVHDF process is depicted in FIG. 3 , thegraphical user interface 200 may be configured for a plurality ofdifferent treatment processes such as, e.g., continuous ultrafiltration(SCUF), continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, (CVVH), continuousveno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD), therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE),hemofiltration HP, hemoperfusion, continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT), molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS), etc. For eachdifferent treatment process, the graphical user interface 200 mayinclude a fluids region 210 that includes fluid areas 220 correspondingto the one or more different fluids or fluid configurations that areused in each different treatment process. Although, six different fluidareas 220 are depicted in the fluids region 210 as shown, it is to beunderstood that the fluids region 210 may display, or include, more thansix fluid areas 220 or less than six fluid areas 229 depending on thetreatment being executed. For example, the one or more fluid areas 220may include fluid areas corresponding to one or more of pre blood pump,effluent, citrate, blood flow rate, patient fluid removal, dialysate,replacement fluid, anticoagulation, patient plasma loss, calcium, etc.Further, although the fluid areas 220 are described herein as being“fluid” areas corresponding to different fluids, it is to be understoodthat each fluid area 220 may not always describe a different “fluid,”and instead, may describe the same fluid along a different portion ofthe extracorporeal blood treatment fluid circuit.

Each fluid area 220 may include one or more portions and/or elements tobe configured to display status information related, or corresponding,to a fluid used in the extracorporeal blood treatment. Although manyfluid areas 220 are similar, each fluid area 220 may be different fromthe next fluid area 220. For example, some fluid areas 220 may includemore or less portions/elements than other fluids areas, e.g., dependingof what parameters may be modified by an operator, depending on the typeand amount of information to be conveyed, depending on the type offluid, depending on where the fluid area is located within theextracorporeal blood treatment system, etc.

One or more fluid areas 220 may include a pump element and a reservoirelement. The pump element of a fluid area 220 may include a graphicaldepiction, or icon, loosely depicting an actual pump, an acronym, orabbreviation, of the fluid, and a numerical field typically displayingthe pump's flow rate. Different types of pump elements may be displayedin each fluid area 220 depending on the therapy in use, and the pumpelements themselves may change depending on their state and as anoperator interacts with them.

An exemplary PFR (patient fluid removal) fluid area 221 will be furtherdescribed herein. It is to be understood that other fluid areas 220 mayinclude more or less portions and/or elements than the exemplary PFRfluid area 221, and that the exemplary PFR fluid area 221 is simply oneexample of a fluid area 220.

The PFR fluid area 221 includes a pump element 222 and a reservoirelement 224. The pump element 222 may correspond to a physical pump suchas, e.g., one of the pumps 120 of the exemplary extracorporeal bloodtreatment system 100 described herein with respect to FIG. 2 . The pumpelement 222 may include a pump icon, or graphical representation, 229located in the upper left corner of the pump element 222. The pump icon229 may be a graphical depiction of the type of pump (e.g., peristalticpump as shown) used for the fluid, in this case PFR, corresponding tothe PFR fluid area 221. In other fluid areas 220, the icons located inthe pump elements, may be any other graphical depiction of a device orapparatus to be used with the fluid represented by the fluid area suchas, e.g., syringe, etc. Additionally, the pump element 222 may include atext identifier portion located in the upper right corner of the pumpelement 222, which in this example, is “PFR.”

In one or more embodiments, the pump icon 229 may be animated when,e.g., the pump associated therein is operating or running. For example,an exemplary pump icon 490 is depicted in FIG. 16 transitioning throughfour states of animation. More specifically, as shown, the two circles,representing two rollers or shoes of a peristaltic pump, may rotatearound a central fixed point similar to the two rollers or shoes of aperistaltic pump. The icon 229 of each of the fluid areas 220 may or maynot be synchronized (e.g., the circles representing the rollers being inthe same phase of rotation) and/or may or may not rotate at the samerate (e.g., the rotation rate of circles representing the rollersrotating around a central, fixed point). Further, some icons 229 offluid areas 220 may be animated while others are dormant. For example,some pumps may be running while others are not, and thus, the icons 229of the fluid areas 220 corresponding to the running pumps may beanimated while the icons 229 of the fluid areas 220 corresponding to thepumps not running may be dormant. Additionally, if the icon is asyringe, the syringe may also provide an animation, e.g., the plungermoving inwardly so as to inject fluid, when operational.

The pump element 222 further includes a flow rate 223 depicted below thepump icon 229 and the identifier portion. The flow rate 223 mayalphanumerically describe, or depict, the flow, or pump, rate of thefluid corresponding to the PFR fluid area 221. Although the flow rate ofthe pump element 222 of the PFR fluid area is presently “300”milliliters per hour (ml/hr) as shown in FIG. 3 , the flow rate maychange depending on the treatment and/or phase within the treatment andmay be changed or modified by an operator.

The reservoir element 224 may correspond to a physical reservoir suchas, e.g., one of the reservoirs 132 of the extracorporeal bloodtreatment system 100 described herein with respect to FIG. 2 . Thereservoir element 224 may be configured to depict a fluid levelrepresentative of an amount of the fluid within a reservoir storing thefluid corresponding to the PFR fluid area 221. The fluid level may beshown in many ways. As shown, the reservoir element 224 includes agraphical depiction of a fluid (in this case, PFR) stored in a fluid bagand the fluid level representative of the amount of fluid within thereservoir is defined by the fluid graphically depicted in the fluid bag.

The reservoir element 224 may include a depiction of the physical typeof reservoir being used for the fluid in the extracorporeal bloodtreatment system. For example, as shown, the reservoir element 224 ofthe PFR fluid area 221 is a graphical depiction of a fluid bag, whichmay correspond to the physical bag reservoir being used for PFR in theexemplary extracorporeal blood treatment system. The fluid level maycorrespond to the amount of fluid within the physical reservoir of theextracorporeal blood treatment system, and as such, an operator mayglance at the graphical user interface 200 to determine the volume ofone or more reservoirs (e.g., how empty a reservoir is, how full areservoir is, etc.) based on the fluid levels of the fluid areas 220without looking at the physical reservoir.

The reservoir elements of the fluid areas 220 may depict types ofreservoirs other than fluid bags such as, e.g., cylinders, jugs,syringes, flasks, etc. For example, as shown in calcium fluid (CaSyr)fluid area 227 identified in FIG. 3 , the reservoir element 228 depictsa syringe that includes a fluid (e.g., calcium fluid) and the plungerposition (adjacent the fluid) depicts the fluid level representative ofthe amount of fluid within the syringe.

As described herein, an operator may want to adjust, or modify, a flowrate represented in one of the plurality of fluid areas 220 in thefluids region 210 of the exemplary graphical user interface 200. Toinitiate an adjustment, or modification, of a flow rate, an operator mayselect a region or area of the graphical user interface 200. In theexample depicted herein, if an operator wanted to adjust the flow rateof any of the fluid areas 220 or physically change a reservoirrepresented by one of the fluid areas 220, the operator may select achange region 202 of the graphical user interface 200. In anotherembodiment, if an operator wanted to adjust the flow rate of a fluidarea 220 or physically change a reservoir represented by one of thefluid areas 220, the operator may select any area or portion of thefluids regions 210, which will be described further herein with respectto FIGS. 10-16 . In another embodiment, if an operator wanted to adjustthe flow rate of a fluid area 220 or physically change a reservoirrepresented by one of the fluid areas 220, the operator may select thefluid area 220 to be adjusted or that may need a reservoir change.

An operator, or user, may use input apparatus 20 of the exemplaryextracorporeal blood treatment system 10 described herein with referenceto FIG. 1 to select one or more portions such as, e.g., regions, areas,elements, items, icons, buttons, etc. of the graphical user interface200. For example, the input apparatus 20 may be a touch screen thatcorresponds to the graphical user interface 200. As used herein, when anoperator “selects” a portion of the graphical user interface, it is tobe understood that selecting the portion may be conducted in manydifferent ways using many different types of input apparatus. Forexample, when the input apparatus is a touch screen, an operator mayselect a portion by “touching” the portion with their finger or using apointing device such as a stylus. Further, for example, when the inputapparatus is a mouse or similar pointing device, an operator may selecta portion by locating an arrow or cursor over the desired portion“clicking” the portion. Still further, for example, when the inputapparatus is a series of buttons and/or knobs, an operator may select aportion by using the buttons and/or knobs to navigate to the portion andselecting it by depressing a button and/or knob.

One or more portions (e.g., regions, areas, elements, items, icons,buttons, etc.) of the graphical user interface 200 may change when anoperator is changing a parameter such as changing the flow rate of afluid area 220, e.g., initiated by selecting the change region 202, etc.In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3-10 , one or more portions of thefluid circuit 212 may disappear (e.g., vanish, hide, not appear, not bedisplayed, etc.) when adjusting a flow rate. For example, after anoperator has selected the change region 202 or selected another regionor area of the graphical user interface 200 to initiate a flow rate or areservoir change, the fluid connections 214, filter set 216, anddeaeration apparatus 218 of the fluid circuit 212 may disappear, vanish,be removed from the fluids region 210, etc. as shown in FIG. 4 .

Additionally, the pump elements of the fluid areas 220 may also changein appearance, e.g., the pump elements may change in color, tone, etc.In other embodiments, one or more portions of the fluid circuit 212 maybe graphically obscured, e.g., blurred, “greyed-out,” etc. after anoperator has selected the change region 202 or selected another regionor area of the graphical user interface 200 to initiate a flow rate or areservoir change. For example, one or more portions of the fluid circuit212 may be blurred as will be described further herein with respect toFIGS. 10-15 .

In the exemplary graphical user interface 200 of FIG. 4 , if an operatorwanted to adjust the flow rate 243 (presently, 200 milliliters perminute (ml/min) as depicted) of the Blood Flow Rate (BFR) fluid area241, the operator may select the pump element 242 of the BFR fluid area241. After the pump element 242 of the BFR fluid area 241 has beenselected, a flow rate adjustment area 246 may be displayed proximate theBFR fluid area 241 as shown in FIG. 5 . Although the flow rateadjustment area 246 is displayed below the pump element 242 of the BFRfluid area 241, it is to be understood that the flow rate adjustmentarea 246 may be located anywhere on the graphical user interface 200(e.g., as a pop-up dialog, a pop-over area or window, etc.).

An operator may use the flow rate adjustment area 246 to adjust, ormodify, the flow rate of the selected item. In this embodiment, the flowrate adjustment area 246 may include a rotary portion 248 that may beused to adjust the flow rate. For example, an operator may select anouter smaller circle 250 of the rotary portion 248 and drag, or move,the outer smaller circle 250 around a central, inner circle 252 of therotary portion 248 similar to a crank or a dial. Moving the outersmaller circle 250 clockwise around the central inner circle 252 mayincrease the flow rate while moving the outer smaller circle 250counterclockwise around the central inner circle 252 may decrease theflow rate. Although the flow rate adjustment area 246 includes a rotaryportion 248 in this example, it is to be understood that the exemplaryflow rate adjustment areas described herein may include any graphicaluser interface elements and portions to provide the functionality forflow rate adjustment. For example, a scrollable wheel may be provided byan exemplary flow rate adjustment area and will be described furtherherein with respect to FIGS. 13-14 .

As the BFR flow rate is adjusted, a BFR flow rate 243 displayed in thepump element 242 of BFR fluid area 241 may be updated to reflect theadjusted value (e.g., the BFR flow rate 243 displayed in the pumpelement 242 of the BFR fluid area 241 may change while an operator isadjusting the BFR flow rate using the flow rate adjustment area 246).Further, as shown in FIG. 6 , while a flow rate is being modified, theprevious flow rate 245 (e.g., the flow rate prior to any modification oradjustment) may also be indicated within the pump element 242. As shown,the previous flow rate 245 is indicated in smaller text next to the flowrate 243 within the pump element 242.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5 , the flow rate adjustment area 246 mayinclude a plus button 254 and a minus button 256 that may be selected byan operator to increment and decrement, respectively, the flow rate 243.Further, a range of available flow rates may be indicated by a lowerlimit, or a lower range number, 258 (10 ml/min as shown) located in theupper left of the flow rate adjustment area 246 and an upper limit, oran upper range number, 260 (300 ml/min as shown) located in the upperright of the flow rate adjustment area 246. Further, the current flowrate (e.g., the flow rate being adjusted) may be indicated within therange by line 262 located (e.g., proportionally located based on theselected flow rate) between the upper and lower range numbers 258, 260.

When an operator adjusts a flow rate of a particular fluid area 220(e.g., using an adjustment area 246) to a limit such as the lower limit258 or the upper limit 260, one or more adjustment notifications may bedepicted, or displayed, proximate the particular fluid area 220 and/orone or more additional fluid areas 220 that may be adjusted to modifythe limit of the particular fluid area 220. For example, as shown inFIG. 6 , an operator has adjusted the BFR flow rate 243 to 300 ml/min,which as shown in the flow rate adjustment area 246, is the upper limit260 for BFR. As a result, an exemplary notification 275 has beendisplayed proximate the pre-blood pump citrate (PBPcit) fluid area 270to indicate that the flow rate for PBPcit may be decreased to increasethe upper limit 260 of the BFR fluid area 241 and an exemplarynotification 285 has been displayed proximate the Rep fluid area 280 toindicate that the flow rate for replacement fluid (Rep) may be decreasedto increase the upper limit 260 of the BFR fluid area 241.

The notifications 275, 285 include an icon indicating a decrease in flowrate for each of PBPcit and Rep, respectfully. Specifically, the icons274, 284, which previously were icons depicting peristaltic pumps asshown in FIG. 5 , have changed to arrows pointing downwardly, e.g., toindicate that a decrease in the flow rate of each of these fluid areas270, 280 is needed to adjust the upper limit 260 of the BFR fluid area241. Additionally, each of the icons 274, 284 may also flash, pulse, orbe animated with another graphical animation as represented by theconcentric rings 276, 286.

One or more elements or portions of, or proximate to, the BFR fluid area241 may change as well when a limit such as the upper limit 260 is met.

For example, the icon 249, which previously was an icon depicting aperistaltic pump as shown in FIG. 5 , of the pump element 242 of the BFRfluid area 241 has changed to an arrow pointing upwardly, e.g., toindicate that a decrease in the PBPcit and/or Rep fluid areas 270, 280will result in an increased upper limit 260.

Additionally, an adjustment information area 265 may be depictedproximate the BFR fluid area 241. The adjustment information area 265may be configured to provide information relevant to the limit being metand one or more actions that may be taken to modify the met limit. Forexample, the adjustment information area 265 may include a title portion268 describing the limit that has been met (e.g., a description oflimit). As shown, the title portion 268 recites “Pre-filter LimitReached,” which may provide additional indication of what limit has beenmet or reached when adjusting BFR flow rate 243 using the adjustmentarea 246. The adjustment information areas 265 may further include aninformation block 266 depicting text that may include one or moreinstructions. The information block 266 may be described as providing adescription of one or more actions that may be required to be performedon one or more other fluid areas 220 to modify the limit. As shown, theinformation block 266 instructs an operator to decrease the PBPcit(pre-blood pump citrate) flow rate and/or Rep (Replacement Fluid) flowrate so as to increase the upper limit 260 for BFR flow rate 243.

An operator may require additional information or additional instructionregarding the limit and/or how to adjust the limit. To provideadditional information, the adjustment information area 265 may includean additional information element 267 that upon selection by an operatormay provide additional information including one or more of adescription of the limit, a description of one or more other fluidsareas, and a description of one or more actions to be performed usingone or more other fluid areas 220 to adjust or modify the limit. Forexample, additional information 269 is shown in the adjustmentinformation area 265 of FIG. 7 that may be depicted, or shown, after anoperator has selected the additional information element 267.Conversely, if an operator would like to revert back to the informationshown in the information area 265 of FIG. 6 , an operator may select theadditional information element 267 again.

In one or more embodiments, if a limit may be adjusted (e.g., increasedin the case of an upper limit or decreased in the case of a lower limit)for a selected fluid area 220 by adjustment of a single flow rate ofanother fluid area 220, then the exemplary systems and methods mayprovide automatic adjustment of the single flow rate of the anotherfluid area. In other words, the limit of a first flow rate may bedependent on only one more other flow rate—a second flow rate. In thissituation, the second flow rate may be automatically adjusted when thelimit of the first flow rate is met. For example, the exemplary methodsand systems may allow an operator adjust the limit of the first flowrate when the limit is met, e.g., through one or more various additionalgraphics and/or dialogs, after a single warning and confirmation thatadjusting the limit will adjust the flow rate of another identifiedfluid area, etc., which will thereby adjust the second flow ratecorresponding to the limit adjustment. Further, in one or moreembodiments, one or more flow rates of other fluid areas 220 mayautomatically adjust without user intervention based on the limitsand/or flow rates being adjusted in a selected fluid area. When a flowrate of a fluid area 220 is automatically adjusted, the fluid area 220may be graphically changed or highlighted to indicate that the fluidarea has been automatically adjusted. For example, if the PBPcit fluidarea 270 is adjusted, the CaSyr fluid area may be automatically adjustedto correspond to the PBPcit adjustment, and after or during, adjustment,the CaSyr fluid area may graphically changed or a graphical indicationmay be provided to indicate that it was been automatically adjusted(e.g., highlighted, whitened, etc.).

Based upon, e.g., the information provided by the notifications 275, 285and adjustment information area 265, an operator may decide to adjustone or more flow rates of the indicated fluid areas 270, 280 to changethe limit as shown in FIG. 8 . As shown, an operator has selected thepre-blood pump citrate (PBPCit) fluid area 270 to adjust the flow ratethereof. Similar to when the BFR fluid area 241 was selected, adjustmentnotifications 245, 285 may be depicted since the PBPcit flow rate is atits upper limit (e.g., because the BFR flow rate is dependent on thePBPcit flow rate and has been adjusted to its limit). In this example,the adjustment notifications 245, 285 are depicted proximate the BFRfluid area 241 and Rep fluid area 280, respectively, since, e.g., theflow rates for BFR and Rep are dependent on the PBPcit flow rate.Further, an adjustment information area 265 may also be depictedproximate the PBPCit fluid area 270 providing information with respectto the met limit of PBPcit.

As shown, the flow rate of PBPCit, which is 3.0 mmol/L Blood, hasreached its upper limit. As indicated, in the exemplary graphical userinterface 200 of FIGS. 6-8 , the PBPCit flow rate must be decreased toincrease the upper limit of BFR flow rate, which, in this example, isthe intended purpose. Thus, an operator may adjust the PBPcit flow rateusing an adjustment area 246 to, e.g., 2.5 mmol/L Blood as shown in FIG.9 . After adjustment as shown, the adjustment notifications 245, 285and/or adjustment information area 265 may be disappear (e.g., vanish,be removed, etc.) from the graphical user interface 200 because, e.g.,the PBPcit flow rate is not at its upper limit anymore. Further, asshown in FIG. 10 , an operator may switch back to adjusting the BFR byselecting the BFR fluid area 241, and as shown, the upper limit 260 ofthe BFR fluid area 241 has increased to 360 ml/min.

After an operator has adjusted the flow rates of the fluid areas 220 asintended, the operator may initiate the exemplary system to implementsuch adjusted flow rates by selecting an “Accept” area 296 of aconfirmation region 295 of the graphical user interface 200 as shown inFIG. 8 . Conversely, if the operator does not want to implement theadjusted flow rates, the operator may select a “Cancel” area, or button,297 of the confirmation region 295, which, e.g., would revert the flowrates of the fluid areas 220 back to what they were prior to adjustment.

As described herein, when one or more flow rates are being adjusted in afluids region of the exemplary graphical user interface, one or moreportions (e.g., regions, areas, elements, icons, graphics, etc.) withinthe fluids region may disappear or be removed from the graphical userinterfaces. In other embodiments, when one or more flow rates are beingadjusted in a fluids region of the exemplary graphical user interfaces,one or more portions of the graphical user interface within the fluidsregion such as, e.g., one or more elements of a fluid circuit, may begraphically modified (e.g., emphasized, etc.) as opposed to vanishing,being removed, etc.

Another exemplary graphical user interface 300 that includes a fluidsregion 310 is depicted in FIGS. 11-15 . In this graphical user interface300, one or more portions of a fluid circuit 312 and reservoir elementsof the fluid areas 320 of the fluids region 310 may be graphicallymodified when adjusting a flow rate and/or when initiating a reservoirchange. For example, if an operator would like to adjust a flow rate orchange a reservoir using the graphical user interface 300 of FIG. 11 ,an operator may select any location within the fluids region 310 and thegraphical user interface 300 may graphically change or transition intothat of FIG. 12 . As shown in FIG. 12 , the fluid circuit 312, reservoirelements 324, and one or more additional regions 315 of the graphicaluse interface 300 have been graphically modified, e.g., to indicate thata flow rate adjustment or reservoir change may occur. As shown, thegraphical modification of the fluid circuit 312, reservoir elements 324,and one or more additional regions 315 may be described as an obscuringof the fluid circuit 312, reservoir elements 324, and one or moreadditional regions 315. For example, the fluid circuit 312, reservoirelements 324, and one or more additional regions 315 may be blurredand/or darkened (e.g., low lighted). In other embodiments, the fluidcircuit 312, reservoir elements 324, and one or more additional regions315 may be pixelated, low lighted (e.g., provided with lower light orbrightness than others), and/or modified with any other graphicaleffect.

Additionally, the graphical modification from FIG. 11 to FIG. 12 may bedescribed as emphasizing of the pump elements 322 and/or changereservoir elements 325 and/or deemphasizing the fluid circuit 312,reservoir elements 324, and one or more additional regions 315. Forexample, the pump elements 322 and change reservoir elements 325 may bebrightened and/or may include more “attention grabbing” color while thefluid circuit 312, reservoir elements 324, and one or more additionalregions 315 may be darkened and/or may include less “attention grabbing”color. Further, any other type of “attention grabbing” graphical userelement, animation, or depiction may be used to distinguish between thepump elements 322 and/or change reservoir elements 325 from the fluidcircuit 312, reservoir elements 324, and one or more additional regions315. For example, a border may be displayed around the pump elements 322and/or change reservoir elements 325 and everything within the bordermay be graphically emphasized while everything outside of the border maybe graphically deemphasized.

When one or more portions of the graphical user interface 300 aredeemphasized (e.g., low lighted), they may also be renderednon-functional or inoperable. For example, the de-emphasized portionsmay no longer be able to be interacted with by an operator (e.g., tochange a flow rate, etc.).

Further, a particular fluid area 320 may be selected for adjustment byselecting pump element 322 of the particular fluid area 320. When afluid area 320 has been selected for adjustment, the change reservoirelements 325 may be removed from the graphical user interface 300 asshown in FIGS. 13-14 (e.g., which may further expose the graphicallyde-emphasized reservoir elements 324).

As described herein, different flow rate adjustment areas may be used bythe exemplary methods and systems. A flow rate adjustment area that isdifferent from the flow rate adjustment area 246 described herein withrespect to FIGS. 6-7 is shown in FIGS. 13-14 . For example, if anoperator would like to adjust the flow rate of PBP, and thus, selectedthe pump element 322 of the PBP fluid area 321, a flow rate adjustmentarea 346 may be depicted proximate the PBP fluid area 321 as shown inFIG. 13 . The flow rate adjustment area 346 may include lower and upperlimits 358, 360, line 362, and plus and minus elements 354, 356 that maybe similar to lower and upper limits, 258, 260, line 262, and plus andminus elements 254, 256 of the flow rate adjustment area 246 describedherein with respect to FIGS. 6-7 . The flow rate adjustment area 346 mayinclude a scrollable wheel 348 that may be scrolled (e.g., swiped by afinger of an operator) up or down (represented by arrow 349) to adjustthe flow rate of PBP.

After the flow rate has been adjusted, an operator may select an acceptelement 372 within the confirmation region 370 of the graphical userinterface 300. After selecting the accept element 372, the graphicaluser interface 300 may change back to as shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12(e.g., with an adjusted flow value). Further, if an operator decides tocancel the flow rate adjustment, the operator may selected the cancelelement 374 within the confirmation region 370 of the graphical userinterface 300, which may revert the graphical user interface 300 back toas shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12 .

In another embodiment, a confirmation region may be depicted, ordisplayed, proximate the fluid area 320 being modified. For example, asshown in FIG. 14 , a confirmation region 380 including accept and cancelelements 382, 384 is depicted proximate the fluid area 321 and mayprovide the same functionality as the confirmation region 370. In otherembodiments, the confirmation region 370 may always be displayed whenthe flow rate adjustment area 246 is displayed.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 14 , the PBP fluid area 321 isgraphically emphasized (e.g., brightened, increased brightness,highlighted, etc.) while the remainder of the fluids region 310 and/orother portions of the graphical user interface 300 (e.g., fluid circuit312, other regions 315) are deemphasized (e.g., darkened, low lighted,decreased brightness, blurred, pixelated, etc.). This graphicalmodification of the portions of the graphical user interface 300 mayoccur directly after a user has selected a fluid area 320 for adjustmentfrom the graphical user interface 300 shown in FIG. 11 . For example, ifan operator would like to adjust the PBP flow rate, the operator mayselect (e.g., touch) the pump element of the PBP fluid area 321 in FIG.11 and the graphical user interface 300 may transition, or change, tothat of FIG. 14 , where all but the pump element of the PBP fluid area321 and adjustment area 346 are graphically de-emphasized. Further, itmay be described that graphical user interface 300 is configured toallow an operator to select a selected fluid area 321 of the pluralityof fluid areas 320 to initiate an action (e.g., flow rate change,reservoir change, etc.) associated with the selected fluid area 321. Theother, non-selected fluid areas 320 may be graphically modified (e.g.,de-emphasized) and rendered non-functional once a fluid area such as PBPfluid area 321 has been selected. A fluid area 320 is renderednon-functional or inoperable when it is no longer able to be interactedwith by an operator (e.g., to change a flow rate, etc.).

From the graphical user interface 300 depicted in FIG. 12 , an operatormay choose to adjust a flow rate of one of the one or more fluid areas320 or change a reservoir for one of the one or more fluid areas 320. Ifan operator chooses to change a reservoir, an operator may select areservoir element 324 of the particular fluid area 320 corresponding toreservoir to be changed. For example, if an operator would like tochange the PBP reservoir, the operator may select the reservoir element324 of the PBP fluid area 321 in FIG. 12 . After selection, a reservoirchange instruction region 400 may be depicted as shown in FIG. 15 .Generally, the reservoir change instruction region 400 may includetextual instructions 402 (e.g., alphanumeric strings, etc.) includingthe one or more steps to complete or perform a reservoir change and agraphical representation 404 of the present step.

All patents, patent documents, and references cited herein areincorporated in their entirety as if each were incorporated separately.This disclosure has been provided with reference to illustrativeembodiments and is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Asdescribed previously, one skilled in the art will recognize that othervarious illustrative applications may use the techniques as describedherein to take advantage of the beneficial characteristics of thesystems and methods described herein. Various modifications of theillustrative embodiments, as well as additional embodiments of thedisclosure, will be apparent upon reference to this description.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. An extracorporeal blood treatment systemcomprising: extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus for use inperforming an extracorporeal blood treatment comprising: a treatment setcomprising tubing operably coupled to a patient to at least take bloodfrom and return blood to the patient, a plurality of pumps operablycoupled to the treatment set to move blood and a treatment solutionthrough the treatment set during extracorporeal blood treatment, aplurality of reservoirs operably coupled to the treatment set and theplurality of pumps to store fluids during extracorporeal bloodtreatment, and a plurality of reservoir scales to hold and weigh theplurality of reservoirs; a display apparatus comprising a graphical userinterface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to depicta fluid region; and a computing apparatus operatively coupled to theextracorporeal blood treatment apparatus and the display apparatus,wherein the computing apparatus is configured to: provide a plurality ofextracorporeal blood treatments; configure a selected extracorporealblood treatment from the plurality of extracorporeal blood treatments;display on the graphical user interface a fluid region diagrammaticallyrepresentative of the selected extracorporeal treatment comprising: aplurality of pump elements representative of and corresponding to theplurality of pumps, wherein each pump element of the plurality of pumpelements defines a flow rate during performance of the selectedextracorporeal blood treatment, and a fluid circuit comprising one ormore fluid connections extending between the plurality of pump elementsto diagrammatically represent the configuration of the treatment set forthe selected extracorporeal treatment; and perform the selectedextracorporeal blood treatment.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein thefluid region further comprises a plurality of reservoir elementsrepresentative of and corresponding to the plurality of reservoirsstoring the fluid to diagrammatically represent the configuration of theplurality of reservoirs for the selected extracorporeal treatment,wherein each reservoir element of the plurality of reservoir elementscomprises a fluid level representative of an amount of the fluid withinthe reservoir storing the fluid during performance of the extracorporealblood treatment.
 26. The system of claim 24, wherein the treatment setfurther comprises a deaeration apparatus, and wherein the fluid circuitof the fluid region further comprises a deaeration apparatus elementrepresentative of and corresponding to the deaeration apparatus todiagrammatically represent the configuration of the deaeration apparatuswithin the treatment set for the selected extracorporeal treatment. 27.The system of claim 24, wherein the treatment set further comprises ablood warmer, and wherein the fluid circuit of the fluid region furthercomprises a blood warmer element representative of and corresponding tothe blood warmer to diagrammatically represent the configuration of theblood warmer within the treatment set for the selected extracorporealtreatment.
 28. The system of claim 24, wherein the treatment set furthercomprises one or more pressure sensors, and wherein the fluid circuit ofthe fluid region further comprises one or more pressure sensor elementsrepresentative of and corresponding to the one or more pressure sensorsto diagrammatically represent the configuration of the one or morepressure sensors within the treatment set for the selectedextracorporeal treatment.
 29. The system of claim 24, wherein thetreatment set further comprises a filter, and wherein the fluid circuitof the fluid region further comprises a filter element representative ofand corresponding to the filter to diagrammatically represent theconfiguration of the filter within the treatment set for the selectedextracorporeal treatment.
 30. The system of claim 24, wherein theplurality of extracorporeal blood treatments comprises continuousultrafiltration (SCUF), continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, (CVVH),continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD), therapeutic plasma exchange(TPE), hemofiltration HP, hemoperfusion, continuous renal replacementtherapy (CRRT), and molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS). 31.The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality ofextracorporeal blood treatments results a first number of the pluralityof pump elements displayed in the fluid region and at least one of theplurality of extracorporeal blood treatments results a second number ofthe plurality of pump elements displayed in the fluid region, whereinthe first number is different than the second number.
 32. The system ofclaim 24, wherein each of the plurality of pump elements comprises apump icon that is graphical depiction of the type of pump used for thecorresponding fluid.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the pump iconis graphical depiction of a peristaltic pump or a syringe.
 34. A methodfor an extracorporeal blood treatment system comprising: providing aplurality of extracorporeal blood treatments using extracorporeal bloodtreatment apparatus, wherein the extracorporeal blood treatmentapparatus comprises: a treatment set comprising tubing operably coupledto a patient to at least take blood from and return blood to thepatient, a plurality of pumps operably coupled to the treatment set tomove blood and a treatment solution through the treatment set duringextracorporeal blood treatment, a plurality of reservoirs operablycoupled to the treatment set and the plurality of pumps to store fluidsduring extracorporeal blood treatment, and a plurality of reservoirscales to hold and weigh the plurality of reservoirs; configuring aselected extracorporeal blood treatment from the plurality ofextracorporeal blood treatments; displaying on a graphical userinterface a fluid region diagrammatically representative of the selectedextracorporeal treatment comprising: a plurality of pump elementsrepresentative of and corresponding to the plurality of pumps, whereineach pump element of the plurality of pump elements defines a flow rateduring performance of the selected extracorporeal blood treatment, and afluid circuit comprising one or more fluid connections extending betweenthe plurality of pump elements to diagrammatically represent theconfiguration of the treatment set for the selected extracorporealtreatment; and performing the selected extracorporeal blood treatment.35. The system of claim 34, wherein the fluid region further comprises aplurality of reservoir elements representative of and corresponding tothe plurality of reservoirs storing the fluid to diagrammaticallyrepresent the configuration of the plurality of reservoirs for theselected extracorporeal treatment, wherein each reservoir element of theplurality of reservoir elements comprises a fluid level representativeof an amount of the fluid within the reservoir storing the fluid duringperformance of the extracorporeal blood treatment.
 36. The system ofclaim 34, wherein the treatment set further comprises a deaerationapparatus, and wherein the fluid circuit of the fluid region furthercomprises a deaeration apparatus element representative of andcorresponding to the deaeration apparatus to diagrammatically representthe configuration of the deaeration apparatus within the treatment setfor the selected extracorporeal treatment.
 37. The system of claim 34,wherein the treatment set further comprises a blood warmer, and whereinthe fluid circuit of the fluid region further comprises a blood warmerelement representative of and corresponding to the blood warmer todiagrammatically represent the configuration of the blood warmer withinthe treatment set for the selected extracorporeal treatment.
 38. Thesystem of claim 34, wherein the treatment set further comprises one ormore pressure sensors, and wherein the fluid circuit of the fluid regionfurther comprises one or more pressure sensor elements representative ofand corresponding to the one or more pressure sensors todiagrammatically represent the configuration of the one or more pressuresensors within the treatment set for the selected extracorporealtreatment.
 39. The system of claim 34, wherein the treatment set furthercomprises a filter, and wherein the fluid circuit of the fluid regionfurther comprises a filter element representative of and correspondingto the filter to diagrammatically represent the configuration of thefilter within the treatment set for the selected extracorporealtreatment.
 40. The system of claim 34, wherein the plurality ofextracorporeal blood treatments comprises continuous ultrafiltration(SCUF), continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, (CVVH), continuousveno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD), therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE),hemofiltration HP, hemoperfusion, continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT), and molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS).
 41. Thesystem of claim 34, wherein at least one of the plurality ofextracorporeal blood treatments results a first number of the pluralityof pump elements displayed in the fluid region and at least one of theplurality of extracorporeal blood treatments results a second number ofthe plurality of pump elements displayed in the fluid region, whereinthe first number is different than the second number.
 42. The system ofclaim 34, wherein each of the plurality of pump elements comprises apump icon that is graphical depiction of the type of pump used for thecorresponding fluid.
 43. The system of claim 42, wherein the pump iconis graphical depiction of a peristaltic pump or a syringe.